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Return to Article: Security, law enforcement workers in high demand

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  I have always had interest in law enforcement and homeland security, but never had the time because of my work scheduel, but now i have the time to persue a career in those fields. I am over the 35yrs old most police dept.have set as a age limit, however, i have two semesters at the Gloucester County police adademy, and have a short internship with the Wahington Twp. nj police dept. I would like to continue my training to obtain the special class 11 certificate, if a department in south jersey would sponsor me. I thank you for this chance to make my intentions known.

  joseph Notaro Posted September 20, 2009 9:40 AM
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  I have come up against a wall, I am a Marine Corps Veteran, and a 16yr veteran police officer. I was assigned to an FBI Task Force and decided that I would like to join a Federal Law Enforcement Agency. The problem is I am 37 years old. I have alot of experience and cannot get the job I want because the Federal Government is actually under the impression that it is better to hire a 25 year old kid who's biggest struggle or responsibility has been who is getting the beer on Saturday night.

  There is a Bill to change the hiring age to 40 from 37 but the bill has been sitting on the desk of some sub-committee for over a year. If the bill H.R. 1258 were to pass it would open hiring to military veteran to the age of 40.

  Please contact your Congressmen and Congresswomen to support this bill.

  David Clark Posted June 13, 2008 9:37 PM
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  I have a joke for my American brothers and sisters, it's called-Veteran! For a while I thought that title meant something in this country, but the joke is on me. I never would have thought that I would have to beg to get hired by the feds. I spent time in the Marines, and all the jobs form custodian to security guard, I don't qualify for. Could someone kick me in my face for serving my country instead of going to college first!

  Troy Schley Posted November 11, 2007 6:19 PM
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  Here on September 12 the day after 9/11 and six years after the attack I wonder what direction we are taken in federal law enforcement .

  In January of this year I retired with over 29yrs service in Justice , Tres and DHS/ICE.

  My observation is that we live in what is called a "Mc Quick" society ..we want it now and it must be young and new . It appears with the mass retirement of federal agents appointed in the 1970's is at hand . Today you have young kids, untested and lack street smarts that are the " new " wonders of management . Management for the most part will be kids that are techcrats ..with little street time .

  The reality of re employment if that is what you want ...what are your "good old boy/girl contacts . You need a hook you don't have one or never part of a "club " forget about it ! . There is little to no interest to re employ or tap the knowledge , wisdom of those that served and have battle proven quality .

  I must report its all smoke even in this post 9/11 age in America . My advice ..move on take what you have schooling OJT/education and get non public employment .

  To all my fellow 1811's we saw much , did much ..take your talents and move on !!!! All the besT !!!

  Enzo F. Cannizzo Posted September 12, 2007 7:52 AM
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  I'm not quite sure what is going on with this "new" system. It truly is quite annoying and frustrating.

  Lyn Williams Posted September 11, 2007 1:42 PM
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  One major issue is similar to the level of support afforded service members with service related injuries. The "system" tends to favor officers over senior enlisted personnel where officers recieved higher disability ratings. Senior enlisted personnel actually received on average more training than officers and gain invaluable experience through work, testing, and additional technical training through skill progression not merely providing oversight as most officer do. I think that the entire veterans preference systems needs overhauling similar to VA health care and federal agencies held accountable for the number of veterans it fails to hire. The personnel budgets should be scrutinized more closely since the current system does not address the needs of enlisted veterans. Once qualified for a jobs and performed that job in the U.S. Air Force as a civil servant but I could not qualify for the same job with the U.S. Army.

  Glanville A. Creque Posted July 28, 2007 2:33 PM
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  I can only concur with several of your previous comments. OPM is a mess! I too have applied and nothing; it's like they shredded your resume on arrival. True their salaries are low. I'm a former GS-12 so you think that would be easier; NOT. The government is trying to get younger offering GS-5's to the college grads at 30K a year, but most of these students are landing 75K plus on the West Coast. Good Luck Uncle Sam!

  Mike Posted July 24, 2007 7:55 PM
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  Regarding the nursing issue, there are nurses who are in GS jobs. I am not sure how well the pay converts to the civilian side though. The clinic we currently go to has more civilian than military in it. Go to usajobs and search for nursing.

  Deanna Posted July 16, 2007 5:38 PM
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  I apply for quiet a few positions, made the list, but never get a call or interview. Just recently I apply for a security position and I was told I will be getting a call in a couple of weeks I am still waiting. If the government wants to hire more people stop making it so hard to get in. I have 15yrs in the security field and it to me 3 yrs to get a job in the DC area.

  Andy Posted July 13, 2007 7:30 PM
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  With all the new growth and the retirement of about 50% of the current senior LE workforce over the next 2-3 years it will be a challenge. New hires will need 4-5 years to get their experience up to speed. Re-employed annuitants are part of the answer as well as private contracting but more needs to be done to entice outgoing military into the civilian side. Some agencies, CBP and ICE, have gotten "age waivers" for hard to fill positions so military retirees up to age 40 are candidates. This raised the mandatory retirement age to 60 for that group but how bad is that?

  More needs to be done to recruit LE employees in all federal arenas now.

  MDR Posted July 7, 2007 8:31 AM
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  No kidding about that living wage, local agencies are hurting for people here in Southern California and they usually start in the $40,000 to $50,000 range. How are the federal agencies supposed to find quality folks when they offer GS-5 pay?

  Chris R. Posted July 6, 2007 5:15 PM
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  Like Joe O'Brien, I too had to chuckle reading the entire 116 page report and survey concerning security and law enforcement hiring. ICE is attempting to downsize the Federal Police Officer (FPS) from around 1300-950.

  William Clarke Posted July 6, 2007 4:17 PM
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  I question just how bad does the federal government want to relieve a shortage of law enforcement and secuirty personnel. I retired as a federal agent with legacy US Customs Service, known now as Department of Homeland Security in 2003 after 26 years of service. I retired because the federal government believes I'm to old to be an agent at the age of 57, so retirement is mandatory. I would love to come back and apply the years of training and experience, but re-employment is next to impossible, and I'm just amoung thousands of federal agents that are forced to retire each year.

  Henry Griffin Posted July 6, 2007 2:24 PM
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  Joe needs to understand that the FBI, USSS, DEA, etc that were brought in to stand up TSA LE were here for just that...to stand it up, these people have had long federal careers, most were retirees brought in on contract and made a lot of money in the process. Time to move on and hand over leadership to the personel who have been the worker bees and will be here for the forseeable future.

  MGreen Posted July 6, 2007 11:42 AM
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  I had to chuckle when I read this article. At the same time that your survey says the government is in need of personnel in security and law enforcement, TSA is terminating the employment of about 150 former FBI, ATF, DEA, etc. Agents who helped to stand up the agency some five years ago.

  Joe O'Brien Posted July 6, 2007 8:33 AM
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  I have been working as a contractor for Federal Occupational Health (through various vendors - a new one every 4 years) for over twelve years. I and the nurses I work with have been told for years there are no Federal Nursing jobs unless you are an enlisted person or are part of the Public Health Service. Where are these 23,000 Federal nursing jobs?

  Marlyn Bradshaw, RN Posted July 6, 2007 8:32 AM
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  Pay us a living wage and they might beable to keep some people.The supervisor also need to get some training in people skills.

  philip Posted July 6, 2007 7:10 AM
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  If the Government needs 8300 contracting experts in the next 2 - 2.5 years, why does it make it so hard to be one? I have seen too many very talented contract specialist get burned out and quit because of the excessive workload and the lack of organized personal development at the individual level. Some days I don't know how I stand it myself.

  The Iron Horse Posted July 6, 2007 7:04 AM